Warren
Co. Biographies
Courtesy Barren’s Black Roots
Volume 3, Michelle Gorin Burris,
Gorin Genealogical Publishing,
(c) May 1993 and shown originally in The Jubilee History and
Biographical Sketches of Liberty Association, G. R. Ford, Times
Publishing Company of Smiths Grove, KY.
“Mrs.
Ollie Blewitt, of Bowling Green,
Ky., the daughter of Mr. Thomas and
Mrs.
Sallie McKay, was born A D 1877 3 ˝ miles east of Bristow. Ky. She
professed hope in Christ and is now a member of the New Bethel
Baptist church in Bowling Green. She was united in marriage to Rev.
James Blewitt February 28, 1904. Her belief in Christianity is very
strong. She says the only way to get to Heaven is to live a perfect
life in the flesh, and no one has any standing with God except they
do all bidden of the Lord. She does not claim sanctification, but do
all, or be lost and she is trying to be well pleasing to her God by
living a staunch, upright ardent Christian lady.”
“Graham R. Ford,
of Smiths Grove, Warren County, Ky., the son of Mr. Wood Ford was
born April 5, 1870. He was reared in Warren county, attended the
common schools, completed the eighth grade and then took up High
School studies. He taught subscription schools several times and
also taught penmanship two terms. He professed a saving faith and
grace in the Lord Jesus, with the evidence of a heart feeling
sensation on December 3, 1892, and united with the Little Hope
Baptist Church. Realizing that the Lord had made a choice of him to
preach the gospel, on February 19, 1893, he attempted to preach from
the following subject: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them
that are lost.” – 2 Cor. 4:3. On August 6, 1893 he was united in
marriage to Miss Octavie Pierson of which he is well pleased. He was
elected assistant Moderator of the Liberty Association in August
1913, he was elected head Moderator of which office he is still
serving. He served two years as president of the Glasgow Normal and
Theological Institution. He is also now serving as chorister of the
Sunday School Convention and has willingly served almost all the
offices of the Liberty Association. He bought property in Edmonson
county, Ky., and built a residence that is now valued at one
thousand dollars and doesn’t owe a penny on it. His work in the
ministry has, so far, been very successful, with the exception of
his portion of trouble that is allotted every man of God. He is
thankful to God for the condition of his past life and for His mercy
towards him and also thanks the people for their patronage. He is
now pastor at Rocky Hill, Barren county, on the first Sunday; Rich
Pond, Warren county, on the second Sunday; Woodburn, Warren county
on the third Sunday; Greensville, Allen county, on the fourth
Sunday. He is as ever a friend, co-worker and brother in the Lord
Jesus Christ. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it
is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to
the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Rom. 1:16.”
“Mrs. O. T. Ford,
a daughter of Rev. N. P. Pierson and Mrs. Pierson, was born
January 30, 1874. She attended the common schools and procured a
fair education. At the age of seventeen she professed a hope in the
Lord Jesus and united with the Icy Sink Baptist Church.
“On the sixth day of August 1893, she was united in
marriage to Rev. G. R. Ford. After marrying, she moved her
membership to the Little Hope Baptist Church to live with the Rev.
Ford. For the last twenty years she has been a teacher in the Sunday
School, having served as teacher most of the time of the advanced
class and a while as superintendent. She is serving now as Bible
class teacher.
“In 1895, the Little Hope Church made choice of her
for their recording secretary, and for twenty-three years is
succession she has kept a faithful record of all their business.
“The little boy standing at her side is her nephew,
which we are raising. We took him when very small. His name is
William Taft Ford. He was born December 2, 1908. He is now in the
fifth grade and is very apt in his books.”
“Mr. Milton Gambel
was born in A. D. 1876. He professed a hope in Christ
when very young. He went into marriage union with Miss Gertie Gums
in 1901. To this union were born four children.
“He first joined the Loving Chapel Baptist Church in
Simpson County, Ky. After moving to Rich Pond and purchasing land in
Warren County, he joined the First Baptist Church of Rich Pond, in
which church he is living a staunch Christian and is serving in the
office of deacon and performing the official duty well and pleasing
to all the members.
“Mrs. Gertie Gambel was born in A. D. 18882
and professed a hope in Christ at the age of nine years. She joined
the Loving Chapel Baptist Church in Simpson County, Ky., Rev. H. D.
Carpenter was the pastor at that time.
“In 1901 she went into marriage with Mr. Milton
Gambel, and is now a member of the Rich Pond Baptist Church. She is
living an inviting life to Christianity under the pastoral care of
Rev. G. R. Ford.”
“Morris
McDaniel, born a slave near Smith’s Grove, Ky., August 6,
1842, was a
corporal in Co. K Infantry 108 regiment and served from 1863 to 1865
in the Civil War. He married to America Whitney in September 1859,
and to this union were born 6 boys and 4 girls. In 1873 he moved
near Hydro, Ky., and bought a farm of 100 aces and with a large
family, strived hard until paid for. In 1877 he joined Mt. Union
Baptist Church and was ordained deacon of said church in 1883. His
mind was so deeply involved in church work that he often neglected
the care of his home and family for his church. He seemed to think
that it was his calling to do something for the uplift of humanity
without charge saying he would reap his reward in Heaven. When the
new church was built he gave the foundation, one half of the boards
and furnished his team free of charge to help with the hauling and
helped the carpenters from start to finish.”
“Mrs.
Annie Page, the daughter of Mr. Peter Lewis and Mrs. Lucy
Lewis, of Oakland, Warren county, Ky., was born March 16, 1878. She
professed a hope in Christ in A. D. 1894 and was, in the same year,
united in marriage to Mr. Hessey Page on January 3. To this union
there were nine children. Mr. Hessey Page died January 10, 1918.
“Rev. L. Shobe, of Smiths Grove,
Ky., the son of Mr. Ben and
Mrs. Matilda Shobe, was born in AD 1855. He professed a hope in
Christ at a very young age, joined the Icey Sink Baptist church and
began the ministry at the age of 22 years and has been pastor of the
following churches: Mammoth Cave 23 years, Oak Ridge 27 years,
Statenfield 2 years, Rocky Hill 18 years, Allens Seminary 2 years,
Poplar Grove 2 years and is now pastor at Oak Ridge and Poplar
Trove. He has been married three times.”
“William Wright, of Smiths
Grove, Ky., as born August 17, 1841.
He
was the son of Nelson Harvey. He professed a hope in Christ and
joined the Mt. Union Baptist Church in 1875 and two years later was
chosen for a deacon, which office he served promptly for 41 years.
He went into wedlock with Miss Sarah Cole and during his married
life he contracted 14 children, 7 boys and 7 girls. The boys are:
Allie, Warren, Samuel, Willie, Matthew, Robert and Ramey Wright. The
girls are: Fannie, Lizzie, Julie, Annie, Clara, Ida, and Jennie
Wright. He was the grandfather of 33 children and the great
grandfather of 38children. He remained a member of the Mt. Union
Baptist Church from 1875 until his death on March 17, 1918. His
funeral was conducted by the Reverends G. R. Ford and N. P. Pierson
from scripture found in Acts 6:3 and I Timothy 2:13, the subject
being “The Deacon and his Office.”
|